I have cancer
Didn't really know how to start this thread so I picked a title that would get right to the point. I rarely post any more especially about myself but with this thread, I'm hoping to get some information from others who may have gone through this.
For 3 weeks in July I battled pneumonia. When I had my follow up chest x-ray, it showed a shadow on my right lung. Two weeks ago my GP called me into her office and told me that further tests were necessary and that it may be cancer. I walked out of her office and back to work in total shock.
On Monday of last week, I had a bronchoscopy and today I got the results of the biopsy. It confirms that it is cancer, in fact it's a typical carcinoid tumour, not really a lung tumour. This is not bad news because it's the type of tumour that is least likely to spread and should be pretty much localized. All I need is sir jury with no chemo or radiation and I expect that they will take out part of my right lung. In doing some research, I found out that it's not related to smoking or second-hand smoke. I'm a non-smoker BTW.
On August 17th I have an appointment for a CT scan and right after that (the same day) I need to meet with a thoracic surgeon. On August 24th I have an appointment for a full PET scan and this will determine if it has spread to other parts of my body or not.
I don't know when the sir jury is going to be....perhaps late September or early October and am told that I'll be hospitalized for about a week and off work for about two months. That seems like a long time to me. You just watch.....I'll be walking the hallway the day after and back to work in a month.
Right now I'm not scared because I'm not alone. I have a great support system, both inside and outside of Pet Talk. This "thing" is not going to break my spirit, nor is it going to bring me down. My attitude is positive and I know I'm going beat this. This is just a "crook" in the road and I'll be back on the right path before you know it. For those of you who don't know, I work for the Canadian Cancer Society and have lots and lots of resources available to me.
So, does anyone know of anyone who has gone through this sir jury? Just curious as to what I can expect. I have a whole page of questions for the surgeon but any advice that you can give me will be very much appreciated.
Thanks for listening.
Last edited by slick; 06-20-2007 at 01:08 AM.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand and strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!
--unknown
Sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see
--Polar Express
Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.
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